Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has pledged to drive comprehensive reforms in the country’s electricity sector, promising honest leadership, clear accountability, and measurable improvements in power supply.
Speaking after his Senate confirmation and assumption of office, Tegbe expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, assuring Nigerians that his administration has already commenced work on a structured reform agenda aimed at addressing longstanding challenges in the sector.
According to the minister, his team has “hit the ground running” by engaging key institutions within the power value chain, including the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the Federal Government Power Holding Company, and other stakeholders.
He noted that the agencies are aligned with the government’s reform objectives and ready to deliver on the agenda. Tegbe also disclosed that discussions with international development organisations and funding partners have yielded encouraging outcomes, with several partners indicating willingness to provide liquidity support for the sector.
Highlighting early gains, the minister revealed that the 450-megawatt Alaoji Open Cycle Power Plant in Abia State, which had been inactive for three years, has been revived by NDPHC and now has up to 375 megawatts available for dispatch to the national grid.
He further stated that TCN recently energized new transmission infrastructure at Katampe in Abuja as well as substations in Ayede and Abeokuta, a development expected to strengthen electricity transmission capacity across several regions of the country.
On consumer protection, Tegbe referenced NERC’s recent directive requiring electricity distribution companies to compensate Band A customers for supply shortfalls recorded earlier in the year. He described the move as evidence of the government’s commitment to protecting consumers while ensuring operators are held accountable for service delivery.
The minister also cited a recent incident in Abuja where TCN and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company swiftly restored electricity supply within 24 hours following the unexpected failure of a 100MVA transformer.
Commending the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Power and its agencies, Tegbe praised their renewed commitment and professionalism, while also acknowledging the support of private-sector partners working toward sectoral improvements.
He assured stakeholders that excellence, productivity, and innovation would be recognized and rewarded under his leadership.
Addressing Nigerians directly, Tegbe appealed for patience and understanding, noting that decades of infrastructural and operational challenges in the power sector cannot be resolved within a few weeks or months.
Reaffirming the commitment he made during his Senate screening, the minister said he would not make unrealistic promises but assured citizens that they would witness gradual but visible improvements in electricity supply, accompanied by transparent and consistent communication from the government.
“Our challenges did not emerge overnight, and they cannot disappear overnight,” he said, adding that the focus of his administration would remain on delivering sustainable reforms that improve power generation, transmission, distribution, and service delivery across the country.
